I was very surprised that I couldn’t find a tab for this song anywhere on the net, even
if its IMHO one of the greatest Janis songs. I did only the rhythm guitar (and it’s very
easy as you see), because the lead guitar transcribing is above my skills, so I’d be
very grateful if someone more skilled would take the time to do the hard work, and tab
the solo:)

Used chords:

e ——————–
B ——————–
G ——–4–2—6–5-
D –4–2–4–2—6–5-
A –4–2–2–0—4–3-
E –2–0————–

( Tab from: http://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/janis_joplin/ball_and_chain_tab.html )
PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 |

e————-|————-|————-|————-|————–|————-|
B————-|————-|————-|————-|————–|————-|
G————-|————-|–4—-4–2–|–4—-4–2–|–6—–6–4–|–6—-5–4–|
D–4—-4–2–|–4—-4–2–|–4—-4–2–|–4—-4–2–|–6—–6–4–|–6—-5–4–|
D–4—-4–2–|–4—-4–2–|–2—-2–0–|–2—-2–0–|–4—–4–2–|–4—-3–2–|
E–2—-2–0–|–2—-2–0–|————-|————-|————–|————-|

I’m not sure, but I think it is played in the standard blues pattern, meaning:
PARTS: 1 1 1 1


Have fun!

egrimate@yahoo.com

Transcribed and submitted by Lars Pettersson , Dec 1997

Song: Get it While You Can
Artist: Janis Joplin
Written by: Jerry Ragovoy/Mort Shuman
Album: Pearl, 1971

Get it While You Can

[Verse 1:]
In this world, if you read the papers, Lord,
You know every--body’s fighting on with each other.
You got no one you can count on, baby,
Not even your own brother.
So if someone comes along,
He’s gonna give you some love and affection

[Chorus:]
I’d say get it while you can, yeah!
Honey, get it while you can,
Hey, hey, get it while you can,
Don’t you turn your back on love, no, no!
[ Tab from: http://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/janis_joplin/get_it_while_you_can_crd.html ]
[Verse 2:]
Don’t you know when you’re loving anybody, baby,
You’re taking a gamble on a little sorrow,
But then who cares, baby,
‘Cause we may not be here to--morrow, no.
And if anybody should come along,
He gonna give you any love and affection,

[Chorus:]
I’d say get it while you can, yeah!
Hey, hey, get it while you can,
Hey, hey, get it while you can.
Don’t you turn your back on love,
No no no, no no no no no.

[Guitar solo: C Em F C E F G#]

Oh, get it while you can,
Honey get it when you’re gonna wanna need it dear , yeah yeah,
Hey hey, get it while you can,
Don’t you turn your back on love,
No no no, no no no no,
get it while you can,
I said hold on to somebody when you get a little lonely dear,
Hey hey, hold on to that man’s heart,
Yeah, get it, want it, hold it, need it,
Get it, want it, need it, hold it,
Get it while you can, yeah,
Honey get it while you can, baby, yeah ,
Hey hey, get it while you can!